e_Paper, Tuesday, December 13, 2016

18
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016
DT
Biz Info
| awareness |
Dignity for septic tank emptiers
Ensuring decent work conditions for all
The FSM Network in Bangladesh
has organised the first national
convention for septic tank and
pit emptiers, as this population
group often faces social
stigmatisation even while risking
their own health doing work for
the community on a daily basis.
Almost 100 septic tank and pit
emptiers were brought together
to share their life stories, and
together with government and
development officials came up
with inclusive ways to improve
their situation.
The progress to date on
improving access to sanitation
and reducing open defecation
can be seriously undermined
by failing to sustain the use of
existing toilets and the unsafe
disposal of faecal sludge.
Household sanitation in urban
areas consists predominantly
(80%) of on-site technologies,
i.e. septic tanks and pits. These
require regular emptying, but
presently most of them are never
emptied as they are directly
connected to drains or open
water bodies. The ones that
are, are emptied manually by
sweepers and not mechanically.
As the urban population is
increasing exponentially, there is
a need for efficient and effective
faecal sludge management
(FSM) services. This can only
be achieved through better
organisation of the current
services, and by ensuring
improved occupational safety and
health standards for the service
providers.
The national ‘Dignity for
Septic Tank Emptiers’ convention
held at IGED Bhaban, Shere-Bangla
Nagar, Agargaon in
Dhaka on December 7, 2016. It
was a day-long event, starting
with an opening speech by
the Honourable Kazi Reazul
Hoque, Chairman Human
Rights Commission, followed by
speeches from septic tank and pit
emptiers and other special guests.
Then issues related to septic tank
emptying will be discussed along
with the lines of the four domains
of Decent Work as defined
by the International Labour
Organization (ILO): Dignity,
Equality, Fair Income, and Safe
Working Conditions. Suggestions
and recommendations will be
collected from septic tank and pit
emptiers and other stakeholders,
after which the event will
be concluded by a cultural
programme.•
| meeting |
Brain Gain talks by AAA
| notice |
ISPR Directorate
reassures students about
UGC ad
American Alumni Association
(AAA), organised tea time talk
under its Brain Gain Initiative
yesterday at its Secretariat
located in Banani. AAA member
Ehsanur Rahman, an immigration
lawyer by profession, shared
his experiences and advice
regarding various aspects of
US immigration. The event was
also graced by AAA president,
secretary and members.
AAA launched the Brain Gain
Initiative in 2011 under which
AAA considers the intellectual
capital of the expatriate
talents, as an asset for national
development and urges them
to contribute to the society
by sharing their education,
experience and skills. AAA often
arranges events, seminars and
presentations to enhance and
facilitate knowledge transfer. •
• Features Desk
The Inter-Service Public
Relations (ISPR) Directorate
assured students that the
advertisement by the University
Grants Commission (UGC),
published on November 16
would not be applicable to the
three universities run by the
Bangladesh army.
The three institutions
receiving exemption are
Bangladesh Army University of
Engineering and Technology
(BAUET), Bangladesh Army
International University of
Science and Technology
(BAIUST) and Bangladesh
Army University of Science and
Technology (BAUST).
In a press release, the ISPR
said that the vice-chancellors
appointed by the boards of
trustees concerned have been
running the universities from
the very beginning.
The panel of VC’s has been
placed before the Chancellor
through the ministry of
education for approval. This
move impacts the issuance
of graduation certificates for
the students of the concerned
universities.
The new release by ISPR
assures guardians and students
that the advertisement by
UGC should have no negative
impact on the conferring of
degrees and certificates by the
universities. •